Vaporizer



Deco 7 l 1,610,000 T. J. FAY

`VAPORI ZER Filed March 25, 1922 2v Sheets-Sheet l 2 Z Zyl Dec. 7 1926. 1,610,000

T. J. FAY

VAPORIZER Filed March 25, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 7, 19\26.

UNITED STAT-Es PATENT-OFFICE.

THoMAs J. FAY, vor' BROOKLYN, NEW Yonx.

VAPORIZER.

application mea March 25, 1922.- seriai No. 546,665.

fold that will distribute uniformly to alll of the cylinders this liquid portion of the mixture furnished by the carbureter. matter what condition the fuel is in when it .reaches the cylinder, it must be vaporized before it can be burned. The most effective way yet found of improving distribution and combustion is to apply heat in some form or other, This makes it desirable to know how much heat to introduce and how to introduce it to get the best results. The ideal manifold would accordingly be one that produced a mixture dry enough to distribute evenly and burnjwell in the cylinders, with thlef leashpossible heating of the mixture itse f Attempts have been made to vaporize the liquid fuel in the intake manifold by conductin the intake mixture through a con'-v duit t at passes :through the water jacket used for coolingthe cylinders, but the ternperature of the boiling water in the jacket is too low to roperly and fully vaporize the heavy liqui fuels which it is now necessary to accept and use. Other attempts have been made to vaporlze the liquid fuel by heating the same before or after mixture with the air, but since'the exhaust gases range in temperature from about 300 Fahr. .to about 1500 Fahr. dependent upon the speed and running conditions of the engine, the heat derived from the exhaust gases is tooV variable and uncertain to be relied upon alone. The lower end of the range of temperatures above given is too low to be effective in vaporizing many of the fractions of petroleum that are offered to the public as fuel. With the higher temperatures, the fuel content per unit volume is decreased to such an extent that the maximum power of the engine is not cleveloped.

There is sufficient heat in the exhaust gases so that if the proper method of utilization can be found, it will make'possible the'satisfactory use of fuels considerably heavier than the present power 'gasoline without seriously limiting the power, efficiency or exibility of motor vehicles, or resulting in any of the diiculties that are now due to poor manifolding systems.l

An object of the invention is to .provide an improved method and apparatus for vaporizing the liquid fuel prior to its admission tothe engine cylinders, with which the fuel will be distributed uniformly to all the cylinders, with which a mixture may be obtained which is dry' enough to ldistribute evenly and burn well in the cylinders with 'the least possible heating ofthe mixture itself, and which enables the satisfactory and eiclent use of relatively heavy fuels. A

further object is to provide an improved.l

manifold which will accomplish the above objects and also check flare backs through the intake manifold which occur Where the valves are leaky and the mixture is lean. A further object is to provide an improved method and apparatus forvaporizing liquid fuel by which the exhaust gases may be effectively and eficiently utilized and controlled for heating the intake gases and mixture under various operating conditions of the engine, which may be adapted to present designs of engines without material changes in their construction and design, and the apparatus of which is simple, compact, durab'le, and inexpensive. Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description of an embodiment of the invention and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in claims.

The invention comprehends the heating of the intake gases or mixture by a heat interchange. with the exhaust gases, and stabilizing or tempering the heated gases or mixture l by a further heat interchange with the cooling liquid of the engine. In 'the conduit in which the. last named heat interchange occurs I preferably dispose a plurality of bristlesy of heat conducting material which extend transversely across the conduit into close proximity to or in contact with the walls through which the heat interchange is effected. These bristles may be advantageously arranged in a helical row extending axially along the conduit so as to give to the lighter portions of the mixture a slightly swirling movement and so as to be impinged upon themselves by the heavier portions which compriselargely the incompletely vaporized fuel. The helical passa e formed the bristles also increases the e of the passage for the intake mixture during bil ective lengt t the period of the heat interchange and stabilization. The heat in the bristles will cause a vaporization of the liquid collected' thereon and its absorption into the intake gases. This insures, the passage to the cylinders ofI a completely vaporized fuel havingthe proper temperature.

backs along the intake conduit by cooling of the exhaust pipe by-pass carrying the bristles.

Flg. 5 is a transverse section through the Same.

Fig. 6 isa plan of a slightly different type 0f engine havingthe improved vaporizer applied thereto.

Fig. 7 is an elevation of a portion of an engine showing a further modification of the vaporizer; and

Fig. 8 is an elevation of .a portion of an engine showing a still further modified embodiment of the vaporizer.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 to 5, an engine 1 is provided with a removable head 2, a plurality of reciprocating pistons 3 in cylinders 4, and surrounded by a water jacket 5. An intake conduit 6 extends transversely through the waterjacket 5 between tvvoof the cylinders 4, and at oneend is provided with branches 7 and 8 which extend in opposite directions to one another to intake ports 9 and 10.

The intake poits are controlled in a suitable manner by valves 11 which are pressed against their seats in a suitable manner, such as by springs 12. Exhaust ports 13 from the cylinders connect with exhaust cross-con# duits 14 which unite into a common exhaust conduit 15 leading to a suitable muliler, not shown. The end of the conduit 6, which is opposite from the branches 7 and 8, is connected by a pipe or conduit 16 to a suitable carburetor, (not shown.) in which the liquid fuel and air are mixed in a welloknown manner. A small pipe 17 asses axially through conduit 6 from one slde of the engine to the other, one-end of the pipe 17 be` ing connected by' pipe 18 to the exhaust conduit 14, the other end of the pipe 17 passing through the wall of pipe 16 and being connected to a suitable muier 19 by means of a The bristles check flarepipel 2O having therein a suitable controlling valve 21. A portion of the exhaust gases from the conduit 14 will be ldiverted through plural-` close proximity to or in contact with the in` I ner wall of the conduit 6. The braid 23 is anchored to the periphery of the pipe 17 in a suitable manner, such as by strips 24 which extend lengthwise of the pipe 17 and clamp the braid to the pipes. As the intake gases composed of air and fuel pass through the conduit 6, the lighter or completely vaporized portions of the mixture will partially pass between the bristles and along the conduit, and partially will `be given a swirling movement corresponding somewhat to the helical passage formed by the helical rowl of bristles.` The heavier particles will impinge against and collect upon the bristles since, because of their inertia, they will not partake materially' of the swirling movement, and since the bristles upon the pi e 17 will be heated by the heat from the ex aust gases passing through the pipe 17, the heavier or unvaporized particles of the mixture will be heated and fully vaporized and absorbed into the passing mixture. By a manipulation of the valve 21 a greater or less proportion of, the exhaust gases may be admitted through the pipe 17in order to vary the temperature of the bristles for various fuel and running conditions. f

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 6, the engine 25 is provided -with exhaust valves 26 along one face of the engine and with intake valves 27 along the opposite face ofthe engine. The conduit 6 passes through the water jacket of the engine from side to side and the branch intakes 7 and Slead to the intake orts 27 beneath the intake valves. The pipe 1 is connected to the exhaust manifold 28 and passes axially through the conduit 6 and to a small muffler in the manner similar to that disclosed in Figure 1. The bristles 22 are secured in a helical row to the pipe 17 in the manner shown in Figure 4 and serve a similar purpose.

In use, I have found that the intake gases will be completely vaporized in passing through the conduit 6 and thatthe tempera.- ture in the conduit 6 is substantially uniform under Various running conditions of the engine, the heat interchange between the wa- ,y ter of the water .jacket and the bristles serving to to the through the pipe 17.

stabilize or temper'tne heat imparted bristles by the exhaust gases passing I have found that the mixture entering the engine cylinders is .suiliciently dry to insure uniform dist-rlbution and to burn well and with a maximum of efficiency. When lean mixtures are being burning gases below the Combustion temperature and thus extinguish the flare-back before it passes for any considerable distance .along the manifold.l

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 7, the intake conduit 29 extends through the water jacket of the engine 30, as in the embodiment disclosed in Figures 1 to 6. A core .17n is disposed axially of the conduit 29 and is provided with a helical row of metallic bristles 22l which extend radially of the conduit 29 and into contact` with or in close proximity tothe walls of the `conduit. A conduit 3l passes through a chamber 32 included in theexhaust conduit or manifold and extends to the opposite side of the engine where it uniteswith the usual intake conduit 33, a.common passage 34 connecting. the union with the adjacent end of the conduit 29. Suitable valves 35 and 36 in the conduits 31 and 33 control the relative proportions of the gases passing therethrough Whichare admitted into the common intake conduit 34, the valves being controlled in a suitable manner from a common operating member'3't'.l `The other end of conduit 31 is -open for Ithe* admission of air thereto, the

air which passes through the pipe being` 4heated `by a heat interchange with the exhaust gases in the chamber 3, and the hot air obtained in this manner is mixed with the fuel mixture coming throughl conduit and this new mixture passes through Aconduit 34 and the-conduit- 29 Where a complete mixing is effected, the fuel being completely vaporized. The temperature of the mixture is stabilized or tempered by a heat interchange with the cooling liquid in the Water acket the interchange being facilitated and controlled by the bristles.

In the embodimentv illustrated in Figure 8, the engine 30 is similar to that vof Figure 7. and is provided with the intake conduit 29. passing through the water jacket and having therein the helical row of bristles 22a.. A casing 38 surrounds a portion of the exhaust conduit 39 and is providedat its lower end with an opening 40 through which cold air enters the casing. The casing is connected` by a conduit 41 to'a carburetor' 42 of an)7 suitable construction, where the fuel is added, and a conduit 43 extends from the carburetor to the conduit 29 for fon.

ducting the mixture of heated air and fuel through the water jacket to the intake valves bustion engines having aA water'jacket, an

of the engine. A suitable valve ..44 contr ls the conduit 43 for ,regulating the amou t of mixture passing through the conduit 29. The air entering the casing 38 through the opening 40 -Willbe heated by the exhaust 70 gases in the exhaust conduit which pass through the casing, and will be conducted to the carburetor forv the addition of the liquid fuel. The mixture isl then conducted through conduit 29 where a 75 complete mixing and vaporiz'ation takes place, the temperature of the mixture being` stabilized or tempered by a heat interchange with theliquid in the Water jacket of the e`ngine, as in the. embodiments before disclosed in Figures l to 7. The 'stabilization and mixing are facilitated by the bristles 22il and flare backs are checked.

The intake to the various cylinders is intermittent and consequently the movement 55 of the mixture of fuel and air is intermit.- 4 tent. The bristles serve to convert the -intermittent rushes of the mixture into a more uniform movement so that the fuel carried thereby will not tend to settle out in the in. tei-val between admissions to the cylinders.'

The action of the bristles may be compared somewhat to the action of the twigs, leaves andv branchesof trees in breaking up rushes of air into a more uniform and less violent movement. This enables the uniform heating of ever)7 particle of the fuel. If an exp cess of fuel is carried bythe mixture beyond that which can be properly vapor-ized, the excess is removed by the bristles," heated and reapplied to the moving mixture, the bristles in this respect acting in the manner of an auxiliary reservoir of fuel. The bristles extend `transversely -of the axis of the conduit so that there is no continuity of surface extending axially of the conduit which by capillarj7 action would carry -liquid fuel through the conduit without vaporization. The bristles also extend in all directions transversely acrossb the direction of flow sa that there will not be a. direct passage through the conduit.

1. In al fuel vaporizer for internal comexhaust conduit, and a fuel intake conduit with a portion passing through the water jacket, a heating conduit passing through the portion of the fuel intake conduit in the water `jacket'and connected tothe exhaust conduitwhereby at least a portion of the Aexhaust gases may be passedthrough said heating conduit, and baffle members extendin across the intake conduit between the wals thereof andther heating conduit, inheat interchanging relation with both, for

'tempering the heat imparted tothe gases passing through the intake conduit.

2. In a fuel vaporizer for internal combustion engmes having a water jacket, an "0 exhaust conduit and a fuel intake conduit with a portion passin through the water jacket, a heating con uit passing through the portion of the fuel intake conduit. in the water jacket and connected to the exhaust conduit whereby at least a portion of the exhaust gases may be passed through saidheating conduit. and bristles of heat conducting material in said intake conduit and arranged along the periphery of the heating conduit. f

3. In a fuel vaporizer for internal combustion engines having a water jacket, an exhaust conduit and a fuel intake conduit with a portion passing through the water jacket, a heating conduit passing through the portion of the fuel intake conduit in the water jacket and connected to the exhaust conduit whereby at least a portion of the exhaust gases may be passed through said heating conduit, and baiiie members extending across the intake conduit between the walls thereof and the heating conduit, in heat interchanging relation with both, for tempering the heat imparted to the gases passing through the intake conduit, said aille members having their surfaces substantially out of contact with one'another in a direction along the conduit, whereby travel along the conduit, by capillary action upon said surfaces, of liquid fuel collecting upon the members from the intake gases will be prevented.

4. In a fuel'lvaporizei foryinternal com-` bustion englnes having a water jacket, an

exhaust conduit and a fuel intake conduit with a portion passing through the water jacket, a heating conduit passing through the portion of the fuel intake conduit in the water jacket and connected to the exhaust vconduit whereby at least a portion of the exhaust gases may be passed through said heating conduit, and bristles of heat conducting material in said intake conduit and arranged helically along the heating conduit; said bristles extending in directions transverse to the heating conduit. o

5. In a fuel vaporizer for internal combustion engines having a water jacket, an exhaust conduit and a fuel intake conduit with a portion passing through the water jacket, a heating conduit passing through the portion of the fuel intake conduit in the water jacket and connected to the exhaust conduit whereby at least a portion .of the exhaust gases may be passed through said heating conduit, and bristles -of heat conducting material carried by the heating conduit in said intake conduit and extending in directions transverse to the heating conduit.

6. In a fuel vaporizer for internal combustion engines having a 'water jacket, an exhaust conduit and a fuel intake conduit with a portion' passing through the water jacket, a heating conduit passing through the portion of the fuel intake conduit in the water jacket and connected to the exhaust conduit whereby atleast a portion of the exhaust gases may be passed through said heating conduit, and bristles of heat conducting material in said intake conduit and arranged along the heating conduit, said bristles extending across the intake conduit in close proximity to the walls thereof and to the heating conduit. V

7. In a fuel vaporizer for internal combustion engines, a fuel intake-conduit leading to the combustion chamber and having a heatedr wall, spaced bristles of heat conducting materialin said intake conduit and arranged helically along the heated wall.

8. In a fuel vaporizer for internal co1nbustion engines, a conduit through which the fuel mixture passes, and a helical row of bristles of heat conducting material extending along sai-d conduits.

9. In a fuel vaporizer for li uid cooled explosion engines, an intake con uit having walls in heat interchanging `relation with both exhaust gases and the cooling liquid, and baile members in said conduit, each in heat interchanging relation with both walls so as to temper the heating action of the exhaust gases and the cooling liquid upon the intake gases and insure a more uniform temperature of the latter.

l). In a fuel vaporizer forliqui-d cooled explosion engines, an intake conduit having walls-in heat interchanging relation with both exhaust gases and the cooling li uid, and baille members in said conduit, eac 1 in heat interchanging'relation with both walls so as to temper the heating action of the exhaust gases and the cooling liquid upon the intake gases and insure amore uniform temperature of the latter, said balile members having their surfaces substantially out of contact with one another in a direction along the conduit whereby travel along the conduit, by capillary action upon the members, of liquid fuel collecting upon the members from the intake gases will be prevented.

1.1. In av fuel vaporizer for li uid cooled explosion engines, means for heating at least a portion of the intake gases by heat interchange with the iquid fuel collecting upon theL members from the intake gases will be prevented.

12. In a fuel vaporizer for liquid cooled explosion engines, means for heating at least a portion of the intake gases by heat interexhaust gases, a conduitv through which the heated intake gases pass having a portion of .120

to the vengine cylinders 'having a portion of its walls in heat i-nterchanging relation with the cooling liquid of the engine, and bristles of heat conducting material arranged along and extending transversely of said conduit.

v13. In a fuel vap'o-rizer for liquid c ooled explosion engines, means for heating at least a portion ofthe intake gases by heat interchange with the exhaust gases, a conduit through which the heated intake gases'pass to the engine cylinders having a portion of its walls in heat interchanging relation with the cooling liquid of the en ine, and bristles of heat conducting materia arranged along and extending transversely of said conduit,

`and into close proximity to the walls of said conduit. ,v

14. In`a fuel'vaporizer for ,liquid cooled explosion engines, means for heating at least a portion of the intake gases by heat interchange ,with the exhaust gases, a conduit through which the heated intake gasespass to the engine'cylinders having a portion of its walls in heat interchanging relation with hthecooling liquid of `the engine, and a helical row ef bristlesvof heat conducting material extending axially along the conduit with tlhe bristles disposed transversely ofthe conc uit. i 1

15. In a fuel vaporizer for internal combustion engines, a conduit through which the fuel and air mixture passes to the cylinders, and numerous small bristles disposed along the conduit and extending transversely across the conduit in all ldirections so as to form a barrier to direct passage of the mixture through the conduit.

16, In a fuel vaporizer for internal combustlon engines, a conduit` through which the fuel land air mixture passes tos the/cylinder having va heated wall, andl numerous small bristles disposed along the conduit and extending transverselyl across theconduit in all directions, so as to form a barrier to 'direct passage lof the mixture thro-ugh Ithe conduit, said bristles being'in atleast close proximity to' the heated wall.

17. In a fuel vaporizer for internal cmbustion engines an intake conduit for conveying the mixture of air and .fuel to` the combustiony chambers, and baiiie means in said conduit for effecting a more complete vaporization of the fuel, said means com prising a plurality of bristles disposed tov extend transversely of thelength of the conduit and arranged tof oppose direct passage of the mixture through the conduit,

whereby any liquid fuel held' in suspension in the air passing along 'the conduit will iinpinge upon saidbristles as the mixture passes'about them during its travel along theconduit.

18. In a fuel vapori'zer for an explosion engine, means for supplying'a. fuel and air mixture to said engine and including'lan in' take conduit having a wall in lieat inter-v changing relation with theheat of combustion of the engine, and a plurality of bristles of heat conducting material in heat interchanging relation with said conduit wall, extendingfin directions"transversely of the conduit and in positions to oppose direct passage of the mixture through the conduit, whereby any-liquid fuel 'held in suspension in the air passing along the conduit will impinge upon `vsaid bristles as the mixture passes about them during its travel along the conduit, the heat ofsaid bristles from theheat interchange increasingfthe vaporization ofthe liquid fuel particles which impinge thereon. I i

19. In .a fuel vaporizerj for internal combustion engines, an intake conduit forco-nveying the mixture of air and fuel to the combustion chambers, and baffle means in said conduit for eifectinga more complete vaporization of thev fuel, said means com' prising a plurality of bristles disposed to extend transversely of the length of thel conduit and arrangedto oppose direct passage of the mixture through the conduit, whereby any liquid fuef held in suspension in the air passing along the conduit will im- 4pinge' upon said bristles as` the mixture take conduitl having a wall in lheat interchanging relation withthev heat of combustion of the engine, and a plurality of bristles .of heat conducting-material in heat interchanging relation with jsai'd conduit wall, extendingin directions transversely of the conduit and in positions to oppose' direct i 'passage of the mixture through the conduit, whereby any liquid fuel held in suspension in the air passing along the conduit will impinge upon saidv bristles as the mixture passes about them during its travel along the conduit, the heat ofsaid bristles from the heat interchangel increasing the vaporization of the liquid fuel particles which impinge thereon, the bristles being arranged-1n a spiral row` along the length of the' conduit so as to give the mixture a slight rotation while also permitting it to pass through the spaces between adjacent bristles.

In Witnesswhereof, I hereunto subscribe m si ature.- y gn* THOMAS J. FAY. 

